For discussion: Discipleship as Citizenship

1. Do your Christian values make you feel like a resident alien in Canada? How strong are your ties of loyalty to Canada? How strong is your allegiance to your local community or municipality? How do these ties of loyalty compare with your allegiance to your church community? 2. Do you find it helpful to think of your allegiance to Christ as heavenly citizenship? What are the implications for earthly citizenship? If we are dual citizens, where does our primary allegiance lie? Do you agree with Gordon Zerbe that “heavenly citizenship” is a richer image than “discipleship”? 3. Zerbe says that the Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to see themselves as “a kind of counter-citizen society.” Is it appropriate for such “counter-citizens” to hold office in Canadian government at the federal, provincial or municipal level? 4. Zerbe points out some of Paul’s military imagery. Does this imagery encourage Christians to think militarily? What are the drawbacks of using citizenship or military language? How can the church better honour its heroes of nonviolence?

--Posted Dec. 11, 2013

Share this page:

Add new comment

Canadian Mennonite invites comments and encourages constructive discussion about our content. Actual full names (first and last) are required. Comments are moderated and may be edited. They will not appear online until approved and will be posted during business hours. Some comments may be reproduced in print.

Your name *

E-mail *

The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.